Railway-spike.



J. F. RUSSELL.

RAILWAY SPIKB. APPLICATION FILED JUNE23,1911.

1,048,590. Patented Dec.31,1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

JOSEPH F. RUSSELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY-SPIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 23, 1911. Serial No. 634,932.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. RUSSELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway- Spikes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in railway spikes the object of the invention being to provide a spike of this character which shall be so designed as to be readily inserted in a railway tie and withdrawn therefrom, with ease and expedition.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a design in a railway spike thatnvhcn the same is inserted in a railway tie that practically the same resistance is offered preventing its withdrawal as that of the conventional threaded spike.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which, i

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a railway spike embodying my invention. Fig. 2-is also a side elevation of the spike taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line w-a: of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the spike.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises a head 1 which is circular in form and provided with a beveled edge 2 for conforming to the standard rail-foot not shown. Extending upwardly from the head 1 and arranged coaxial therewith is a square supplementary head 3 by means of which the spike may be turned.

Thus far the construction is similar to that of theeonventional threaded spike and no claim is laid thereto.

The body of the spike is circular in cross section at its upper end and therefrom is slightly tapered to the point 5 thereof which is V-shaped in form. The spike is provided with flattened portions 6 upon opposite sides thereof, extending substantially the entire length of the spike and which increase gradually in width from the head 1 toward the point 5, where they merge into the beveled faces of the point, said beveled faces thereby constituting continuations of the flat faces (3. The extent of the flat portion 6 on opposite sidesof the spike- 1 is clearly shown in Fig. 3 which is a cross section midway of the length of the spike or in other words on line w.r as aforesaid. Arranged intermediate the flat portions 6 and disposed diametrically opposite are threaded portions 7, the threads of which are disposed in the same manner as that of an ordinary threaded spike. In fact this spike is formed from an ordinary threaded spike, the difference in construction being the fiat tapering portions (5 and the V-shaped point 5.

In order to insert the spike in a railway tie for securing a rail thereto the spike is first driven into the tie until the beveled edge 2 engages the foot of the rail, a hole of suitable size being first provided in the tie if so desired. After thus inserting the spike the same is given a quarter turn by applying a suitable wrench to the square head 3. The result of this turning is that the threaded portion 7 of the spike will be turned into the wood of the tie which has not been injured by driving the spike thereinto. The spike in this manner is locked as securely in position as an ordinary threaded spike which consumes a considerable amount of time for its insertion. In order to withdraw the spike of the present invention in case of railway repairs the same is first given a quarter turn and then withdrawn by means of a suitable pry which engages the head 1 of the spike.

A railway spike of the conformation shown possesses the advantage of being easily inserted and withdrawn from the tie together with means for securely locking the same in Patented Dec. 31, 1912. r

position. It will be observed that the beveled surfaces forming V-shaped points 5 are arranged at the ends and in continuation of flattened surfaces 6. This tends to, compress, rather than tear, the fibers adjacent surfaces 6 as the spike is driven, thus affording a reinforced and firm hold for thread 7 when the spike is turned.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carry mg my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction as set forth,

but desire to avail myself of such Variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

-Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A railway spike having a downwardly tapering threaded shank, said shank being substantially circular in cross section and flattened on opposite sides to remove the thread therefrom, said flattened portions increasing slightly in width toward the lower end, and said spike being beveled at the lower end and'in continuation of the flatoeaeeo tened surfaces, to form a V-sha ed point 5 fibers, substantially as described. 20

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnessesu JOSEPH F. RUSSELL.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR A. OLSON, JOSHUA R. H. Po'l'rs. 

